MIAMI(CBSMiami) – A man who was shot three times during a shooting spree in Liberty City that claimed two lives on Tuesday is speaking out, saying he tried to protect as many people he could from being wounded.

“What went through my mind was first trying to protect all the women and get everyone out of the way. Instead I ended up getting shot three times,” said the victim, who did not want to show all of his face or provide his name.

He told CBS4’s Peter D’Oench, “I feel bad, real bad right now. I lost two friends. It is crazy what is going on right now. I got shot in my side and in my back. I am in a whole lot of pain right now. I should be resting but I wanted to say something about what happened.”

He told D’Oench, “I feel terrible because everyone came out here to have fun. We came out here to drink. We had no weapons. Nothing like that. And then we ended up getting ambushed.”

He was one of the seven victims of the shooting spree that happened around 2:15 a.m. at the Liberty Square Housing complex on Northwest 12th Avenue at 65th Street.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I didn’t see anything. I was trying to protect and cover everybody.”

Miami Police have said it appears the shooting was gang-related retaliation for a previous incident and they say automatic weapons were used. More than 60 bullets were fired.

The victim said, “This was not about a territory dispute. We came across the street from the Pork n’ Beans and we were having a good time. And I don’t think it was gang-related. I’m not in a gang and no one I saw there was in a gang.”

The shooting claimed the lives of 29-year-old Kevin Richardson and 26-year-old Nakeri Jackson. Several people were rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Twenty-seven-year-old Devone Mcneal was shot twice—once in the back. The youngest victim, 17-year-old Jessica Martin, was shot six times–twice in the chest.

It’s not clear who, if anyone, was being targeted by the shooters.

The victim urged anyone with information to come forward.

“It’s not about snitching,” he said. “It’s about helping. You also have to watch your surroundings and what you are doing.”

Meanwhile a makeshift memorial with stuffed animals at the crime scene is growing. Friends and family members of the victims have been stopping by to write notes on posters.

Verna King, who is the aunt of one of the victims, said “Those young men who died were innocent victims. They didn’t know what was going on.”

Michelle Logan, who is also the aunt of one of the victims, said “We need people to come forward because they all have brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers. I have a son and a nephew and I would hate for something like that to happen to them. This is so, so sad.”

Peter D'Oench is a reporter for CBS4 News. He came to CBS4 from WKRN in Nashville.
D'Oench was an award-winning member of the WPLG News Team as a reporter from 1989 – 2004. In addition, he was a producer for news, special projects and...